Sewing-machine.



A. J. BRIGGS.

SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED on. 11. 1913.-

Patented July 20, 1915.

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A. J. BRIGGS. SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 17. 1913.

Patented July 20, 1915.

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ARTHUR J. BRIGGS, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE VANNETTEBOBBINLESS SEWING MACHINE COMPANY, OF AMSTERDAM, NEW YORK, A

CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SEWING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. P t ted July 20, 1915',

Application filed October 17, 1913. Serial No. 795,665.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ARTHUR J. BRIGGS, citizenof the United States, and resident of Syracuse, in the county ofOnondaga and State of New York, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Sewing- Machines, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to lock-stitch sew.- ing machines of the typedisclosed in Letters Patent No. 875,751, issued J an. 7, 1908, in whichthe under thread as well as the upper thread is taken direct from theordinary commercial spool of sewing thread. In the machine of theaforesaid patent, a spoolcase is provided for containing the spoolcarrying the under thread supply, and associated therewith are means'forholding spools of different sizes within the case without undue endwisemovement therein other than enough to permit of the passage of theneedle-thread loop between the spool. and its engaging parts. This meanscomprises a movable end wall for the spool-case whichis adjustablerelatively to an opposing end wall to vary the spool-receiving spacetherebetween, and a further means for spacing the said end wallsrelatively to different sizes of spools inserted into the spool-case toprovide in every instance the same predeter mined thread-clearancespace' between the parts. The means for so spacing the end walls of thespool case, however, is adapted to be operated manually subsequent tothe insertion. of the spool into its case, and it has frequentlyhappened that the operator through some oversight has started up themachine without operating the spacing means, with the result that thethread has been broken and delay and inconvenience thereby occasioned.To overcome such disadvantage resulting from the manual operation of thespacing means has been the main object of my present inventionand this Iaccomplish by the provision of means which will be automaticallyoperatedto effect the desired spacing upon the starting of the machine followingthe insertion of a spool into its case.

Other'features of the invention not hereinbefore referred to will behereinafter scribed and claimed.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in which I have shown only soof the spacing mechanism in a position intermediate of the positionsshown in Figs. 1 and 2-. Figs. l and 5 are enlarged views of the spacingmechanism cams shown. in Figs. 1 and 2 respectively. Fig. 6 is anunderside plan view of the parts shown in i the preceding figures andcertain additional associated parts, mounted in operative position onthe bed-plate of the machine. Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on theline 77 of Fig. l.

parts in the several figures of the drawings.

The reciprocatory spool-case and its supporting and operating means aresubstan- Similar reference characters indicate like i tially the same asthose of theaforesaid patcut to which reference may be had.

The spool case, indicated at 2, is of substantially cylindrical form toloosely contain a correspondingly-shaped commercial spool s, and at itsupper side has a sliding connection with a reciprocatory frame or plate3 which in turn has a sliding connection with the bed-plate 1, theconnection of the spool-case with the frame 3 being preferably effectedby a substantially T-shaped tongue 4 on the frame engaging the spoolcasewithin a correspondingly-shaped groove 5, and the connection of theframe 8: with the bed-plate being effected by means of two eye-brackets6, 6, on the frame slidablyengaging with a guide-bar 7 rigidly held tothe underside of the bed-plate by a clampbar 8. These particularconnections for effecting the slidable support of the spoolcase do notform part of my present inveni tion, however, and further description asto their particular cooperationwill not be necessary herein.

The'spooLcase is operated to receive reciprocating movement by means ofa suitable driver which loosely engages w th the spool-case at itsopposite ends. This driver comprises heel and toe portions 9 and 10which engage respectively with the rear and front ends of the spool-caseand whichare v connected by an intermediate portion 11 arranged at theunder side of the spool-case. The driver as thus formed is rigidlyattached' at its heel end to a frame 12 which is slidably mounted on afixed horizontally arranged pin 13 at the under side of, the bed-plateand connected by a pitman 14 with a crank 15 on the driving shaft 16 bywhich a reciprocating movement is imparted to the frame 12 and attachedspool-case driver.

At the front or spool-receiving end of the spool-case islocated aspool-retaining latch 17 which is here shown as being pivotallysupportedwhereby it may be movable from its closed spool-retainingposition, as shown in Figs. 1 and 6, to an open position to permit ofthe insertion or removal of a spool as, shown in Fig. 2.. This latch 17may be supported in any suitable manner to permit of its describedadjustment, the same as here shown being fixedly attached to the frontend of a shaft 18 which is supported at its rear end in a suitablebearing 20 in the driver supporting frame 12. This latchshaft 18 isshown as being provided at its rear end with an arm 19 for-controllingin one of its positions the spacing mechanism to be presently describedwhich regulates the space between the end walls of the spoolcase,according to the size of the spool being employed.

In order to prevent undue endwise movement of a spool within thespool-case, for

reasons hereinbefore referred to and'more fully given in the aforesaidpatent, an adjustable wall 40 is located at the inner end of thespool-case, which, together with the latch 17 at the front end of thecase, form the end walls of the spool-case between which the spool isadapted to be loosely held.

The said adjustable wall 40 is provided by the front end of a plate orshoe 41 which is slidably supported by the spool-driver at its rear endto be movable therewith and arranged with its said front end 40extending about centrally into the open rear end of the spool=casethrough a suitable guide slot in the driver, heel 9. A spring 42connecting spool-receiying space to any size of spool within limlts.

To insert a spool into the spool-case, the latch 17 constituting thefront end wall of the spool-ease is -swung laterally aside to open thespool-case, after which a spool is inserted into the case and movedagainst the pressure of the yielding wall 40 until it is suflicientlyfar inserted to permit closing of the end wall latch 17. When a spool isthus inserted into its case, however, it is held with its ends inengagement with the opposite end walls 40 and 17 of the spool-case,while it is desirable that suflicient space be provided between thespool and the adjacent end walls of the case to permit of the readypassage of the needle-thread loop therebetween without undue friction onthe thread. For this reason a suitable means is provided that isoperative subsequent to the entry of a spool into the case for movingthe adjustable wall 40 a predetermined distance in a direction toincrease the spool-receiving space between it and the opposite end wallwhereby the desired thread clearance space between said walls and thespool will be provided. The means for so moving the adjustable wall 40may be any suitable for the purpose. In the present case said means areas follows: The arm 45 of the shoe 41 is formed at its under side with atoothed or serrated surface 46. surface and adapted for engagementtherewith is a detent 47 which has a pivotal sliding connection with thedriver frame 12- by means of a pin 48 on the latter engaging the detentwithin a horizontally ranging slot 49 therein, whereby two movements ofthe operative end of the detent at substantially right angles to oneanother are permitted, viz: a movement toward and from the serratedsurface of the arm 45 and another movement parallel with said arm; thelatter movement of the detent when in engagement with said arm beingeffective to cause longitudinal movement of the shoe 41. As a means foroperating this detent, the detent is provided with an extension in theform of a sleeve or yoke 50 having an internal cam 51, and engaging withthis cam is a cooperating cam 52 having a hub 53 pivotally mounted inthe frame 12 and rigidly connected by a screw 54 with an operating leverarm 55 having a hooked toe 56 extending into the path of movement of thearm 19 hereinbefore referred to. r

Assuming now that a spool has been inserted into the case and thespacing mechanism not yet operated, the detent 47 will be disengagedfrom the arm 45 of the shoe 41 as shown in Fig. 2 and the front end wallof said shoe will be in contact with the spool under the action of thespring 42. To now retract the shoe for the purpose of providing thedesired thread-clearance space, the lever arm 55 will be moved angularlyby a means to be presently described from the position shown in Fig. 2to thatshown in Fig. 1, and during such movement rotate the cam 52 andcause the salientportions 5 2 Below such serrated I and 52 thereof tosuccessively engage with corresponding salient portions 51 and 51 of thecam 51 to thereby first raisethe detent 47 from its position ofdisengagement with the shoe arm 45 as shown in Fig. 2 to a position ofengagement with said arm as shown in Fig. 3, and thereafter move thedetent horizontally on its pivot support 48 from the position-"shown inFig. 3 to that shown in Fig. 1., whereby the engaged shoe will becorrespondingly moved to provide the desired thread-clearance space asshown in said Fig. 1. The lever arm 55, in accordance with my presentinvention, is adapted to be automatically operated in the manner justdescribed upon the starting of the machine. Any suitable operating meansmay be provided to accomplish this. The means provided in the presentcase are as follows: Adjacent the rear side of the machine at theunderside of the bed-plate is a fixed vertically-arranged screw or studon which is mountedan'oscillatory frame 61 carrying the usualloop-spreader 62 and derivingmotion from a crank 63 on the driving shaftthrough the medium of suitable link connections Get and 65. On one sideof this oscillatory frame 61'is formed an arm 66 which is arranged toengage with the lever arm 55 when the spool-case approachesthe limit'ofits rearwardthrow following the starting of the machine, as shown inFig. 6, and move said lever from the position shown in Fig. 2 to thatshown in Fig. 1, whereby the necessary thread-clearance space isprovided.

In lieu of this oscillatory arm 66 as a stop device for contacting withand shifting the lever arm 55, a stationary stop device might beeffectivelyused, although I have found in practicethat the contactbetween the parts as here employed takes place with less shock and noisethan in the case where a stationary stop isemployed.

As a means for holding the lever arm 55 and associated detent 17 ineither of thetwo extreme positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2, that is, aposition with the detent holding the shoe in retracted position as inFig. 1, and a position with thedetent released from the shoe as inFig.2, a lever 68 is pivoted to the driver frame by a screw 69 and isyieldingly held by aspring 70 in position with a tooth 71 thereonengaging with one or the other of two notches 72 and 73 formed in aperipheralportion of the lever arm adjacentits axis, as shown in saidFigs. 1 and 2. When the lever 55 is tripped by contact with thestopdevice 66in the manner described, the movement imparted thereto by saidstop device will preferably be just suflicient to initially enter thetooth 71 into the tapering notch 73 whereby the finalseating of thetooth into the notch under the action of the spring 70 will eifect suchadditional movement to the lever as will free it from contact with thestop device during the further operation of the machine. 1

When it is desired to remove the spool from its case for any reason, thelatch 17 is swung laterally to open position as shown in Fig. 2, whichmovement rocks its supporting shaft 18 and causes the crank arm 19 atthe rear end thereof to engage the lever arm 55 and operate the same toefiect through the action of the cams 51 and 52 a release of the detent47 from engagement with the shoe arm 15, as shown in Fig. 2, wherebysaid shoe will be projected forward under the action of thespring 12 toeject the, spool from the case. In effecting such release of the detent17 from engagement with the shoe arm under the action of the cams 51 and52, the salient portions 52 and 52 of the cam 52 firstmove fromengagement with the coiiperating salient po-rtions of the cam 51,following which the salient portion 52 of the cam 52 engages with thesalient portion 51 of the cam 51 and thereby forces the detentdownwardly to its releasing position.

As a means for holding the latch '17 in closed position, a spring'75 isinterposed between a head 76 on the rear end of the latch supportingrock-shaft 18 and the adjacent bearing 20 for imparting endwise movementto said shaft and causing a projection 77 on the head 76 to snap into acorresponding recess (not shown) in the driver frame when the latch ismoved to its closed position. As a convenient means for facilitating theentry of a spool into the spool-case and its removal therefrom, a pan orreceptacle 21 is located at the under side of the bed-plate in aposition opposite the usual slide-plate opening therein and with an openend substantially coincident with the front end of the spool-case,whereby a spool may either be dropped into said receptacle through theslide-plate opening and from thence slid into the spool-case, or else bereceived into said receptacle from the spoolcase and from thencewithdrawn through the slideplate opening, in this way making easy andconvenient the operation of entering the spool into the case or removingit therefrom. The construction and use of this pan 21 is more fully setforth in another application of mine bearing Serial Number '7 95,666,and filed of even date herewith.

What I claim is 1. In a sewing machine and in combination, a spool-casehaving adjustable spacing means for determining the spool-receivingspace therein, means automatically operative upon the starting of themachine for adjusting said spacing means, and means for holding saidspacing means in adjusted position.

2. In a sewing machine and in combination, a spool-case having end wallsone of which is movable relatively to the other, means automaticallyoperative upon the starting of the machine for adjusting the position ofsaid movable wall, and means for holding said. movable wall in adjustedposition.

3. In a sewing machine and in combination, a reciprocatory spool-casehaving end walls one of which is movable relatively to the other, meansautomatically operative upon the starting of the machine for adjustingthe position of said movable wall, and means for holding said movableWall in adjusted position. v a

4. In a sewing machine and in combination, a reciprocatory spool-casehaving end walls one of which is movable relatively to the other in adirection to vary the spool-receiving space therebetween, means movablewith the spool-case for adjusting the position of its said movable endwall relatively to the opposing wall, means for automatically operatingsaid end wall adjusting means upon the starting of the machine, andmeans for holding said movable 'wal in adjusted position.

5. In a sewing machine and in combination, a reciprocatory spool-casehaving end walls one of which is movable relatively to the other in adirection to vary the spoolreceiving space therebetween, means movmeansupon the starting of the machine, and

means for holding said movable wall in adjusted position. v

v 6. In a sewing machine and in combination, a reciprocatory spool-casehaving end walls one of which is movable relatively to the other in adirection to vary the spool-receiving space therebetween, means movablewith the spool-case for adjusting the position of its said movable endwall relatively to the opposing wall, an oscillatory device for engagingwith and automatically operating said end-wall adjusting means upon thestarting of the machine, and means for holding said movable wall inadjusted position.

7. In a sewing machine and in combination, a reciprocatory spool-casehaving end walls one of which is movable relatively to the other in adirection to vary the spoolreceiving space therebetween. and meansmovable with the spool-case for adjusting the position of its saidmovable end wall relatively to the opposing wall, said means includingan operating lever, a stop device for engaging with and operating saidlever upon the starting of the machine, said means for holding saidmovable wall in adjusted position.

tory stop device for engaging with and opcrating said lever upon thestarting of the machine. V

'9. In a sewing machine and in combination, a spool-case having endwalls one of which serves as a spool-retaining latch and.

is movable to and from spool-retainingposition and the other of which isspringpressed in a direction to eject a spool from the case when thespool is released'by its latch, means for holding said ejector wall inretracted position against the pressure of its actuating spring, andoperative connections between the latch and said ejector whereby uponthe movement of the .latch to spoolreleasing position the ejectorholding means will be operated to release the ejector.

10. In a sewing machine and in combination, a spool-case having endwalls one of which serves as a spool-retaining latch and is movable toand from spool retaining position and the other of whichis'spring-pressed in a direction to eject a spool from the case when thespool is released by its latch, a reciprocatory driver carrying saidspool-case, means carried by said driver for holding said ejector wallin. retracted position against the pressure of its actuating spring, andoperative connections between the-latch and said ejector whereby uponthe movement of the latch to spool-releasing position the ejectorholding means will be operated to release the ejector. I

11. In a sewing machine and in combination, a spool-case having endwalls one of which serves as a spool-retaining latch and is movable toand from spool-retaining posi- 7 tion and the other of which isspring-pressed in a directionto eject a spool from the case when thespool is released by. its latch,

movement of the latch to spool-releasing position the ejector holdingmeans Will be operated to release the ejector.

Signed at Syracuse, in the county of 15 Onondaga, and State of New York,this 14th day of October A. D. 1913.

ARTHUR J. BRIGGS.

Witnesses:

E. S. BOYNTON, GEO. C. PIERCE.

7 Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G.

